The survey was carried out last September as part of the Marine Conservation Society's (MSC) Beachwatch 2007 campaign.

However, the national results have just been published and they reveal that the density of plastic recorded, 1198 items of litter per kilometre of beach surveyed, is the highest ever recorded with plastic items accounting for over 58% of all litter found on UK beaches.

Emma Snowden, MCS litter projects co-ordinator, said: "Plastics are of particular environmental concern as they may never wholly break down and can persist in the marine environment for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

"Sadly, individual people are the biggest culprit, responsible for over a third of litter found on UK beaches and many plastic litter items have been carelessly discarded and ended up on the beach."

Three volunteers cleaned and surveyed 150 metres of the beach at Bamburgh.

Judy Cowen from Bamburgh said: "This beach in particular is used by family parties. Most do not allow their dogs to foul the beach but not all take their litter home."